Route 110 — The North-South LIE Bypass

The Problem

The LIE between Exit 40 (Route 25/Jericho Turnpike) and Exit 49 (Route 110) is, by any objective measure, one of the worst stretches of highway on Long Island. It handles over 200,000 vehicles per day, feeds the massive Melville/Huntington employment corridor, and has interchange geometry that predates the computer age. During rush hour, this nine-mile stretch can take 30-45 minutes.

The bottleneck at Exit 49 is the worst of it. Route 110 — Broadhollow Road — is one of the most important north-south corridors on the island, connecting Huntington in the north to Amityville in the south. The interchange with the LIE tries to handle commuters, trucks serving the Route 110 office parks, and through-traffic all at once. The result is predictable gridlock.

But here’s what most commuters don’t realize: Route 110 itself, south of the LIE, moves remarkably well for most of the day. While everyone sits on the expressway, Route 110 south of the LIE to the Southern State Parkway has synchronized signals and consistent 35-40 MPH flow.

The Shortcut

Southbound (LIE → Southern State or Sunrise)

1. Exit the LIE at Exit 49 South (Route 110 / Broadhollow Road). If the LIE is backed up, don’t wait until 49 — traffic on the exit ramp itself can stack. Watch for signs starting at Exit 51.
2. Head south on Route 110. You’ll pass through the heart of the Melville corporate corridor — Canon, Nikon, Henry Schein, Broadridge, and dozens of other offices line this road. But their parking lots absorb the car traffic; the road itself keeps moving.
3. For the Southern State Parkway: Continue south approximately 4.5 miles to the Southern State interchange. Route 110 crosses over the Southern State at Exit 32. Take the ramp for either eastbound or westbound.
4. For Sunrise Highway: Continue south past the Southern State another 2 miles through Farmingdale and into North Amityville. Route 110 crosses Sunrise Highway (Route 27) at a signalized intersection. Turn east or west.
5. To return to the LIE further west: Take the Southern State west to Wantagh State Parkway north or Route 135 (Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway) north, both of which reconnect to the LIE west of the jam.

Northbound (Reverse Commute)

Works the same in reverse for PM commuters heading north from the Southern State to points north of the LIE. Route 110 north from Southern State to Route 25 (Jericho Turnpike) is a clean shot when the LIE interchange is gridlocked.

When to Use It

• Weekdays, 4:00-7:00 PM westbound on the LIE. The Exit 49 interchange is at its worst. Route 110 south is your release valve.
• AM rush, 7:00-9:30 AM eastbound. Traffic stacks approaching Exit 49 from the west as commuters try to reach the Melville office parks. If your destination is south of the LIE, skip the interchange entirely.
• Whenever Waze/Google shows 20+ minutes on the LIE between exits 40-49. At 20 minutes for 9 miles, you’re averaging under 30 MPH. Route 110 south will beat that.
• Post-accident on the LIE in this stretch. Accidents between 40-49 are daily occurrences. Route 110 is the best parallel escape.

When NOT to Use It

• During the Route 110 lunch rush (11:30 AM-1:30 PM). The Melville office parks generate enormous midday traffic as employees head to restaurants on Route 110. The road doesn’t gridlock, but it slows to 20-25 MPH with constant light cycles.
• When there’s construction on Route 110 between the LIE and Southern State. This stretch gets repaved and restriped frequently due to heavy truck traffic. Check conditions first.
• If your destination is on the LIE between exits 40-49. If you’re heading to an exit within the jam zone, toughing it out on the LIE is usually faster than going south and coming back up.
• Late night. The LIE flows freely after 8 PM through this stretch. No reason to add the traffic lights on Route 110.

Time Savings

Normal PM rush (4-6 PM): 10-15 minutes saved. The LIE crawl from Exit 49 to Exit 40 takes 25-35 minutes; Route 110 south to Southern State west to Route 135 north back to the LIE takes about 20 minutes with lights.

Heavy congestion or accident: 15-25 minutes saved. When the LIE is truly stopped (accident, disabled vehicle, construction), Route 110 maintains its signal-timed flow regardless.

Friday PM: 20-25 minutes saved. Friday combines regular commute traffic with early Hamptons-bound traffic that paradoxically jams the westbound LIE at Exit 49 as drivers try to access Route 110 south to the Southern State east. Getting onto 110 south before the ramp backs up is critical.

Pro Tips

• The Republic Airport area (Route 110 between Southern State and Conklin Street) is a known speed trap. Farmingdale Village police actively patrol this stretch. The limit drops to 30 MPH — respect it or enjoy your ticket.
• Route 110 becomes “Walt Whitman Road” north of the LIE and “Broadhollow Road” between the LIE and Southern State. Same road, different names. Don’t let GPS confuse you.
• The synchronized traffic lights on Route 110 south of the LIE are timed for 38 MPH. Hit that speed after the first green and you’ll catch every light through to the Southern State. Go faster and you’ll hit every red.
• If you need food or gas, the Broadhollow Road corridor between the LIE and Southern State has every chain restaurant and gas station imaginable. Use the bypass as a pit stop opportunity.
• The Route 110/Southern State interchange is a cloverleaf. The loop ramps are tight — 25 MPH advisory speed is real. Don’t take them at 40 or you’ll end up in the grass like someone does every week.
• For cyclists and pedestrians: Route 110 has zero bike infrastructure and the sidewalks end randomly. This is a car-only corridor. Don’t even think about it.